Designer Nilüfer Bracco is bringing her luxury, cruelty-free, vegan silk-wear brand niLuu to Goop in Sag Harbor this season. We chatted with Bracco to learn more about her passion for sustainablity and her work as a designer.
Tell us about your background as a designer.
From a young age, I had a passion for fashion, but growing up in a small town outside Istanbul, I didn’t know how to turn the passion into a career. However, playing volleyball gave me the opportunity to see more of the world, and eventually brought me to the United States at age 18. It was there that I began to pursue my dream of becoming a designer.
I studied both interior and fashion design, and after working as an interior designer in New York City I studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design. I became a freelance stylist and launched my own handmade beachwear line. These were challenging years that I worked hard and learned a lot, both from my successes and my failures.
Despite the challenges, I remained dedicated to my passion for fashion, and eventually launched my own sustainable and innovative fashion brand, niLuu. As I continue to explore different ideas, I travelled to a fabric fair in Germany, with my brother, who has been in the textile industry for 20 years. There I met my Turkish suppliers and fell in love with their work, creating vegan silk, which is now at the center of our collection.
What inspired you to create a luxury cruelty-free, vegan silk-wear brand?
I was inspired to create a luxury, cruelty free, vegan silk-wear brand when I became aware of the ethical and environmental issues associated with traditional silk production. That’s when I discovered a wonderful, certified-vegan alternative that not only eliminates these issues, but also has exceptional qualities — it’s luxurious, breathable, exceptionally durable, and feels great on the skin and hair.
Creating a brand and product line that I love, while also promoting sustainability and animal welfare, has been an incredibly rewarding journey. At our core, we believe that fashion can be both beautiful and ethical, and we strive to make that a reality with every piece.
Tell us about the materials you use and how your product is produced.
Our pieces are made with Bemberg Cupro, which utilizes the linter surrounding cotton seeds, which are typically discarded at harvest. The raw material is transformed into a very thin and long fiber that is the basis of the cupro yarn. Our cupro is branded Bemberg, which is exclusively produced in Japan by Asahi Kasei. Bemberg is produced in closed-loop facilities with minimum use of water and minimum waste. In fact, waste is used for power generation, in keeping with sustainable practices.
Our fabrics are then produced in Turkey by İpeker, which is a leader in sustainability and has led the effort in developing the vegan-certified fabric. Interestingly, İpeker actually used to be a silk producer. İpek means “silk” in Turkish. As consciousness on sustainability developed, they realized traditional silk was neither sustainable nor humane and set out to develop alternatives that could deliver the same or better characteristics: color richness, feel, comfort.
Finally our garments are assembled in a woman-owned atelier where they are also packaged ready to be delivered to our customers in our sustainably made and beautiful boxes.
You’ve partnered with 1% For the Planet pledging to donate one percent of revenues to environmental organizations. Tell us more about this.
We are proud to be a member of 1% For the Planet, which is a global network of businesses that are committed to giving back to the environment. As part of this commitment, we have pledged to donate one percent of our revenues to environmental organizations that are working to create a more sustainable and healthy planet.
We believe that it is our responsibility as a business to not only minimize our own impact on the environment, but also to support the work of organizations that are leading the way in conservation, sustainability, and environmental justice. By donating one percent of the revenues we are able to support a wide range of organizations and causes that align with our values and mission.
Through our partnership with 1% For the Planet, we are able to contribute to a global moment of businesses that are committed to creating positive change for the planet. We believe that this is an important step in building a more sustainable and equitable future, and we are proud to be part of it.
We can find your pieces at Goop in Sag Harbor. Can you tell us more about the launch at Goop?
Launching niLuu in Goop Sag Harbor is a significant milestone for several reasons. First and foremost, Goop is an amazing platform that is known for promoting high quality and innovative products that align with their philosophy of wellness and self care. By being featured in their store niLuu gains a level of credibility and exposure that validates everything that we are doing.
Goop’s Sag Harbor store is particularly important for us as it is located in the heart of the Hamptons. So niLuu will be present during the busy summer season in one of the most active markets in the nation.
What are a few of your favorite things to do on the East End?
Eight years ago, my family and I had the incredible opportunity to own a house in East Hampton, and it quickly became our go to place in the summer as well as weekend getaway spot year round. There is just something about the Hamptons that feels magical and rejuvenating.
One of my favorite activities was taking horseback riding lessons at Wolffer Estate with my son. Another highlight was visiting Bridgehampton for yoga or barre classes at Exhale, one of my favorite studios, followed by a delicious lunch at Pierre’s. The calming atmosphere of the studio and the delicious French cuisine at Pierre’s made for the perfect day. I also loved going to SoulCycle and Barry’s Bootcamp classes in East Hampton. The music and motivating instructors always left me feeling inspired and energized. Last, but not least, taking long walks on the beach was a daily ritual that never got old. There’s something so peaceful and serene about listening to the waves crashing against the shore, and feeling the warm sand beneath your feet.
Overall, my time in East Hampton was truly special, and these activities made it even more unforgettable.
